Hi! I'm actually right there with you, I just got through foraging through reviews and ordered a tablet based on ones I thought were given the best marks for the compromises you'd have to make not going with Wacom.
My main advice: take note of tablets that have the ports on the bottom of the unit. These are very very cumbersome where they are (especially for the larger ones like the Ugee 2150, which is the one I have), and I'd only advise you go with them if you plan to invest in a separate monitor arm. If not, and you intend to get either a fully portable one (like the Artisul D10 or D13s which have no built in stand), or just one with a smaller build in general, try to find ones with the USB and video ports on the side rather than the top/bottom. Of the ones you mentioned, the XP Pen 16 seems the best for the size you're looking at (and the reviews by Brad Colbow and Sara Tepes over on Youtube both corroborate this). I can also recommend the Ugee 2150 so far, as it is surprisingly responsive.
Otherwise though, all of them seem pretty solid in build and reliability. If you do intend to buy one I'd go with someplace like Amazon which will take it back very easily, rather than rely on the company. Because of where they're based, they will ask for a lot in return shipping if something goes wrong (even if they will refund the cost once they receive it).

Feel free to hit me up anytime if you want any sort of followup on how I feel about the 2150 in particular! I'm waiting to buy a monitor arm and will hopefully know more about how I feel about it when I can use this monster at more angles.

OH SNAP I forgot something else really vital - I'd 100% avoid any tablets with standard definition if you can. I put my Ugee into a different resolution than it's native 1080p and it looked preeetty bad. It may only be aggravated by the fact that it's stretched over such a big screen, but I feel like there are enough HD alternatives that you are better staying away from them. For that reason I'd advise against the Huion 18.5. Also, Monoprice's digitizers may be pretty outdated by now, so I would probably steer clear from them for now either as these other brands seem to be more active in updating their technology. Alright now I"ll get out of your hair hahaha /__\

First of all - thanks so much! This was really a helpful read, I have never seen/used a display tablet IRL and wouldn't have thought
the least about the port situation. To be honest Artisul is too small (especially the 10inch one) I was considering it as I have heard good things and read positive reviews but for a very similiar price I could get something more comfy. So you are generally happy with your Ugee? Its one of the brands I haven't really looked into myself. And yeah definetly going for Amazon!
And I'm really sorry, I sound super dumb but what do you mean by standart definition? I'm super bad at all those technical specifications xd


And damn, the arm stand sounds perfect! It's probably the best way to draw without putting too much strain on your back. I'm going to live in a super tiny dorm room so its out of the question. But good for you! Thanks again <3

You're very welcome! I've dealt with offbrand tablets for a long time, so I'm pretty used to parsing through lots of information about them. I love helping when I can!
I totally hear you - sometimes you just want to be able to move around freely ;w; That said, I do think a smaller size would have been better for me, especially for my desk setup. Between my newness to monitors and my absolute cramped space, I'd advise against the 2150 just for it's size. But otherwise, it is nice and works well - I've only had it for a day so I can't comment on its longevity, but from what I hear they are pretty solid.

As far as resolution, basically it just refers to pixel density! If you want to be sure you won't be staring at a checkerboard, you want to avoid anything lower than 1080p (1920x1080 resolution)! Even if you're working with a smaller screen. Out of the ones I considered, the XP-Pen 16 and Ugee HK 1560 are both the best models to consider - they have HD resolutions, IPS screens (rather than LCDs which have poorer viewing angles), and are ideal with port situations - XP Pen wins for having them on the side, but the HK 1560 is also VESA mount compatible so it's bottom ports are forgivable.

I seriously can't thank you enough, I've seen a lot of reviews on Youtube but for someone inexperienced they really don't help that much. Not that they are bad, they work great for people who know their stuff but I need someone to point out which is better than which instead of telling me just the specs.
Now I'm definetly considering XP 16 above the rest :)

You're totally welcome! I definitely relate, because unfortunately a lot of the reviews only say "It works" based on doing a few rudimentary marks, without commenting on how it feels to do actual artwork on them. =T It's one thing to be able to draw squiggles and circles, and another entirely to use it as a working setup.

Absolutely! Thats why I always check reviews by artists first, they usually nail what you really need to know instead of picking at the small details.